TSUM VALLEY IS OFFICIALLY NOW A NO KILL ZONE- NEPAL

Chumchet and Chekampar VDCs situated in Tsum Valley have been officially declared a “Non Violence Zone” where locals are not allowed to kill/sacrifice/hunt animals, harvest bee hive, set fires in forest and transport of animals in the valley. Those failing to comply will have to light candles worth more than NRS 20,000 and have to offer prayer for more than 1000 times in the monastery.  After severe drought hit the valley in 1920, over 90 years ago, locals have refrained from killing animals.
30 April
Kantipur

SMUGGLERS HELD- NEPAL

Six people along with three Chinese nationals were arrested with 6 kg of Yarshagumba in Sindhupalchowk District, central Nepal, near China border. Smuggling of Yarshagumba to China using this route is not new but this is the first instance where arrest has been made. Meanwhile, Police in Kathmandu arrested two wildlife traders in possession of tiger’s claw, jackal skin and 150 pieces of Yarshagumba.
26, 29 April
The Himalayan Times, Nagrik

138 HECTARES OF PHEWA LAKE ENCROACHED- NEPAL

A survey has revealed that around 138 hectares of Land of Phewa Lake in Pokhara has been encroached. It is estimated that over 800 people have encroached the lake area and 107 hectares of the encroached land have been transformed into agriculture land. Survey also indicated that around 175,000 cubic meters of silt is deposited in the lake every year.
25 April
Kantipur

COST OF CONSERVATION: WOMEN ATTACKED FOR SAVING FOREST

The chairman, Nanda Devi Kunwar, of the proposed community forest in Dhangadi District, west Nepal, was attacked by the forest encroachers as she was erecting a fence along the forest boundary to keep encroachers at bay.  She sustained severe injury on both the hands while trying to avoid attack which was aimed at her throat. A week before, the District Forest Office had apprehended the accused and was set free after issuing the warning.  The accused is still at large.
23, 24 April
Nagrik Daily, Kantipur

Let's Take Care of the Planet United Nation Project

We would like to invite you all to join our Youth and children International Let's Take Care Of The Planet conference.  The conference will held in The International Congress Center http://www.maritim.com/en/hotels/egypt, from 4-9 November 2012 the conference will bring about 600 youth, children and adults from all over the world. Let us take care of the planet is an initiative aimed at promoting environmental citizenship for children and young people and engage them in debate on environmental issues and the global community achieve the UN Decade of Education and sustainable development. Let's take care of the planet for all the world, consistent with the mission and objectives of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), developed by the UN General Assembly with UNESCO, as lead agency. You can find information about the project on our new website. www.confint2012-arabia.org we are working on the web site until now. Kindly find attached the workshop and presentation application we would love that delegations from each country join our conference and included in the Countries book Outcomes of Charter of Responsibilities 2012 one of the conference outcomes the outcomes of charter of responsibilities world book for each country. There is a application for delegate as well. Kindly note that registration fees is 250USD until 15th May after that date the registration will be 350USD you will find also the exhibition form if your country will join the international exhibition which will held in the international exhibition hall in the international congress center.

Dr. Amaal Hassan

Head of Management & Administration

PHD Liverpool University

http://www.confint2012-arabia.org/

Email. amal.hassan@confint2012-arabia.org

Cell: +201113444178
+201000269879

MACOUN MARSH, CANADA UPDATE- BUILDING A FORT

What better way to connect to nature than building a temporary outdoor fort.

Students from St-Laurent Academy know how to enjoy the outdoors!

Using pine to fill in the wall.

Smile!

Lots of logs around.

THE FOREST PROJECT WITH DES SENTIERS SCHOOL- CANADA

On April 25th, each of our 17 classrooms planted one tree which we got from a grant given by City of Ottawa under: Community Tree Planting Grant. A value of 10 000 $.

We had a contest where students had to draw their tree on paper and put technical information regarding that tree on the back of it. The students had to vote for the favourite drawing in each class. We laminated them and hang them on the adopted tree. The result was simply amazing. Smiles, fun and pride brought students, teachers and parents together from their small contribution in our community. Our councillor, Stephan Blais, came to give and “official adoption certificate” to each classroom to highlight their contribution into the environment.

Phase 2 of our project: Construction of an exterior classroom, eco-play, installation of a path in the forest, plantation of the rest of the trees as well as plantation of raspberry shrubs, and descriptive signage, will start after school ended and should be completed before Labour Day. Value of the project 200 000 $.

Phase 3: Clean-up of the forest is scheduled for late Fall. We will invite the community to join us in this mega project followed by a BBQ. We have started digging and found interesting items from the old farm. (some could be 50 years old).

We have applied for an art grant where students and an artist will put together the metal old farming items to make a sculpture which will be installed in front of our school and will represent the link between the forest and the students of Des Sentiers.